Upholstering machine



April `14, 1931.

M. T. VANDERVOORT 1,801,029

UPHOLSTERING MACHINE Filed April 29, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 on o 1'1- 1 i l l l lh un nl In 8 K 4 o l I l) l :l ci [Izz- :211.1272212 1 '20 20 Xx.' z L i8 ij a 2 24; Lg --.j L7

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M.T,VANDERVOORT UPHOLSTERING MACHINE Filed April 29, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MILFORD T. VANDERVOORT, F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN SEATING COMPANY, OF GRAND RAPIDS,

JERSEY MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF NEW UPHOLSTERING- MACHINE Application tiled A-pril 29,

l The present invention relates to upholstering machines;` and its object is to provide an improved machine of that character' whereby the base member oi a cushion seat may be held in exactly predetermined position while the cover sheet is being applied thereto; and further, to provide such a machine whereby the springs of such a seat may be held against excess compression while said cover sheet is being thus applied; and further, to provide such a machine whereby sai-d base member may be securely held while the tacks or attaching means for such cover sheet are driven thereinto; and further and more generally, to provide such a machine which may be very eiiiciently and readily operated.

This object is attained by, and the invention linds preferable embodiment in, the machine hereinafter particularly described in the body oi'v this specification and illustrated by the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure l is an elevational side view of an upholstering machine with a cushion seat in posit-ion thereon, certain parts being shown in medial vertical section;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the same showing the parts in their position prior to the lowering of said base member and parts carried thereby upon the cover sheet of the cushion seat Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the machine taken on line oi Figure 1, the turntable oi the machine being omitted; and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of certain parts `of the machine taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated by these "drawings, my upholstering machine has a suitableV supporting framework 1 formed of angle iron or the like and has suitable raising and lowering mechanism, as the axially vertical cylinder 2 containing a piston 3, its plunger rod l having a iat head 5. This cylinder, as indicated, is supplied with compressed air admitted at either end for vertically moving the head 5 up or down. The lower cylinder head carries a vertical sleeve 6 surrounding the plunger rod 4 and pro-vided adjacent its lower end with a radial 1929. Serial No. 358,908.

flange 7. A collar 8 surrounds and is slidable along this sleeve above flange 7 being urged upwardly by a coiled expansion spring 10 pressing between said flange andcollar. The collar 8 has radial extensions 9 on which are pivotally mounted at 11 the arms 12 having lower hook ends 13.

rlhe machine has a base 14 carrying a turntable 15 revolvable about the vertical axis 16 and hasa top face 17 which is inclined (as shown) for use in connection with a cushion seat vertically wider at one sid-e edge than at its opposite side edge, as is the seat cushion 18 shown in Figure 1.

In operating this machine the cover sheet 19 used in making the cushion seat is laid on the top face 17 of the turntable, and the head 5 of the pistons plunger rod Il being raised by admitting air into the lower end of the cylinder 2, the rigid base member- 20 of the cushion seat is sustained in the elevated and inverted position seen in Figure 2 by inserting the lower ends of the arms 12 through suitable holes 2l in said base member, whereupon the springs 22urging these arms toward each other cause the arms lower hook ends 13 to engage the inner side of said base member adjacent said holes. To prevent the springs 23 pressing between the cushion seats base member 20 and its wire frame 24 at the i i" top side ol' the finished cushion seat-and particularly to prevent (as shown) such springs 231 as are adjacent the thicker front edge oi' the cushion seat from being unduly com-` pressed--bars or struts 25 are passed through holes 26 inthe base member20,havingnotched low-er ends 27 straddling and resting on a wire oi said wire frame 24 and having shoulders 28 engaging the under side of said base member (in its inverted position seen in Figures 1 and 2). Ailir being now admitted into the upper end oi cylinder 2, the flat head 5 moves down carrying the collar 8, arms 12 and base member 20 with it and tensioning the spring 10, until the padding 29 carried by said wire frame 24 is pressed on the cover sheet 19 lying on the turntables top face 17.

This cover sheet is now drawn tautly upward around said padding and over the edges 1 of the base member 20 whereupon it is secured with it, to positions convenient for the operative.

It will be seen that a battery of such machines may be arranged side by side in convenient position for the operatives.

'Ihe invention being intended to be pointed out in the claims, is not to be limited'to` or by details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings or hereinbefore described. l

I claim:

V1. In a machine Vfor making upholstered seats: a table having a top face adapted to support the flexible cover sheet for the seat ;V a vertically movable carrier above the base having members adapted to detachably engage the inverted base member of the'seat and hold the same ,in elevated position above the Y base while said. sheet adjacent its edges 17sv being secured to the base member.

2. In a machine for making upholstered seats: a table having a top face adapted to support the flexible cover sheet Jfor the seat; a vertically movable carrier above the base having members revoluble horizontally and adapted to detachably engage the inverted base .member of the seat and hold the same in elevated position above the base while said sheet adjacent its edges is being secured to the base member. Y Y

3. `In a machine for making upholstered seats: a horizontally revoluble table having a top face adapted to support the flexible cover sheet for the seat; a vertically movable carrier above the base having members revoluble horizontally and adaptedrto detachably engage the inverted base member of the seat and hold the same in elevated position above the base while said sheet adjacent its edges is being secured to the base member.

4. In a machine for making upholstered seats having a base member anda top member with springs therebetween a table having a top face adapted to support a flexible cover sheet for the seat; a vertically movable carrier rod above the base having a flat head at its lower end; a collar carried slidably on the rod and having members adapted to detachably engage the inverted base member of the seat and hold the same in an elevated position in contact with the head while said sheet ad jacent its edges is being secured to the base member. Y

5. In a machine for making upholstered seats having a base member and a top member with springs therebetween: a table having a top face adapted to support a. flexible cover sheet for the seat; a vertically movable carrier rod above the base having a flat head. at its lower end; a collar slidable on the-rod r .and yieldingly supported thereby and having members adapted to detachably engage the inverted base member of the seat and hold the same in an elevated position in Contact with the head while said sheet adjacent itsvcarrier rod above the base having a fiat head at its lower end; a collar carried slid'ably and turnably on the rod and having members adapted to detachably engage the inverted j base member of the seat and hold the same in anV elevated position in contact with the head while said sheet adjacent its edges is being secured to the basemember.

Y7. In a machine for making upholstered seats having abase member with holes therethrough, a top membervand springs between said members: a table having a top face adapted to support a flexible cover sheet for the seat; a vertically/movable carrier rod above the base having a flat head at its lower end; a collar yieldingly upheld on the rod, turnable therearound, and carrying swin able arms having hook ends adapted to ge thrust through the h oles and into engagement with the inner side of the inverted base member of the seat and hold the same in an elevated position in'contact with said head while said sheet adjacent its edges is being secured to the base member. j Y i Y V8. In a machine for makingl upholstered seats having a base member with holes therethrough, a top member and springs 4between said members: av table having atop face adapted to support a flexible cover sheet for the seat; a vertically movable carrier rod above the base having a flat-head at its lower end; a collar yieldingly `upheld yon the rod, turnable therearonnd, andv carrying sprin pressed swingable arms having hook en s adapted to be thrust through the holes and same in an elevated position in contact with said head while said sheet adjacent its edges is being secured to the base member. .f

`-9. In aY machine for making upholstered seats having a base member withpholes therethrough, a top member and springs between said members: a .table having a top face adapted to support a flexible cover sheet for the seat; avertically movable carrier rod above the base having a at head at' its lower end; a collar yieldingly upheld on the rod, turnable thereround, and carrying swingable arms having hook ends adapted to be thrust through theholes and into engagement with the inner side of the inverted base member of the seat and hold the same in anelevated position in contact-with said head whilesaid sheet adjacent its edges is being secured to the -110 into engagement with the inner side of the mverted base member of the seat andhold the Y base member; struts adapted to be thrust through holes in said base member and into engagement with the inner sides of said base member and said top member to hold these members of the seat in spaced-apart relation.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Grand Rapids, Michigan, this 25th dey of April, 1929.

MILFORD T. VANDERVOORT. 

